Business: LuxeSkin Med Spa
Address: 620 N. Washington St., Naperville
Phone/website: 630-544-2050, www.luxeskinmedspa.com
Director: Pat Hamalis, 58, of Naperville
Years in business: 7
What does your business do? “We’re a medical spa,” Hamalis said. “A hybrid between a traditional day spa and a medical office. We provide non-surgical esthetic procedures. We focus on procedures that can’t be done at a traditional day spa. Botox. Fillers. Laser hair removal. We do spider vein treatment with lasers. … We also provide medical-grade facials … (and) CoolSculpting.”
What is CoolSculpting? “It uses a freezing technology to help people who have stubborn fat areas. The treatment actually kills the fat cells in your body over three months. … It’s great for areas of stubborn fat. In the abdomen, love handles, flanks, upper back.”
What about laser hair removal? “It can be done everywhere. … It usually requires a series of treatments. We sell packages depending on the area.”
What about prices? “You can find that online.”
What else do you offer? “Micro needling. That’s basically a procedure where micro needles are used to inject into the skin. Different areas of the face get different needles. That micro injury to the skin stimulates collagen production. We lose collagen as we age. … The fat pads that were plump when we were younger, they lessen. Our bones recede as they do everywhere else in our body.”
Who are your clients? “The majority are women but we see men.”
What happens when someone comes in? “We’ll start with a facial consultation. That’s free. We discuss their concerns. What is it they’re looking to do? … Depending on someone’s goal, it may require different procedures, not just one thing.”
How did you get into this business? “I started here in June. I’m a family nurse practitioner. … I’ve seen over the years how someone’s physical appearance affects them mentally. And I’m also a professional artist. So, getting into the field of esthetics was, to me, a great way to bring my love of medicine and my love of art together. Because when you are dealing with someone’s appearance, it is an artistic adventure. … I do the injectables, CoolSculpting, a little bit of everything.”
What about men’s skin care? “Men, because they shave, they’re kind of exfoliating their skin every day. That’s great.”
What should we know about skin? “A huge thing that people need to remember is to use sunblock. I don’t care what the temperature or weather is outside, you should be wearing sunblock. The UV rays come through even on a cloudy day. … We know UV rays break down collagen. (And can lead to) skin cancer as well. If you’re out, wear a hat, wear your sunblock.”
What do you like about your job? “I love making people feel better about themselves.”
Any favorite stories? “I had a client with a cleft lip. I did some filler on to make it even. I had a client with hyperhidrosis, which is excessive sweating in the armpits. Neurotoxins, like Botox, injected into the armpits eliminates that. This was a young lady in her 20s. She said, ‘Oh my God, this has changed my life.’”
When are you busy? “In the fall, just before the holidays. Summer is busy. People go on trips or have events. Before spring break. We tell people that summer bodies are made in the winter because you don’t see the results right away.”
Any quiet time? “January.”
What challenges do you face? “The clients who come here stay. Our services speak for themselves. We have excellent reviews online. We received a recognition from Yelp (in 2023) as one of the top-rated spas in the area. The challenge is to continue to build because there are so many med spas around. … Word of mouth is great, as long as they are willing to talk about it. Some people aren’t.”
Any future plans? “We’re looking at bringing in some new services. … The owner, Thomas Harter Sr., he owns the buildings next to us. The idea is to build out a hair salon and then also focus more on the body. We’d like to be a one-stop shop. Skin, body, hair.
Is Naperville good for business? “I think so. It’s such a great community. … Businesses are supportive of one another.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Is there a need for it? … You may have a great idea, but are there five other businesses in the area doing the same thing?”
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see to profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
